While our facility is still closed to the public, our staff is hard at work coming up with a plan to re-open that best fits the needs of our Guests and staff. We are taking everything day by day, but are tentatively planning to open on June 15th.

Scales and Tales

I Just Found a Deadly Coral Snake...Well No, Not in South Dakota You Didn't.

June 16, 2013

Pale Milksnake

One of the most common snakes in South Dakota, west of the Missouri River, is a little-seen snake called the Pale Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata). These snakes are surprisingly common around here but are very secretive and so, people are often not familiar with them. They love the rains in the spring and fall, which increases the likelihood of encounters with humans.

We get many calls from concerned residents and visitors to the Black Hills about the "Coral snake" they just found in their yard or while hiking. Coral snakes are highly venomous species of snakes native to the southern part of the U.S. There are also a number of species in Central and South America. US Coral snake species do closely resemble some species of milksnakes, including the Pale milksnake. However, our wonderful Pale milksnakes are totally harmless.In the case of US coral snakes vs the Pale milksnake, the old saying: "Red to yellow, kill a fellow - Red to black venom lack" holds true. But, I must add, with both milksnakes and coral snakes, this is not a hard and fast rule.

This is what a southeastern US Coral Snake looks like.

They use their bright colors to intimidate would-be predators and make those predators (and us) think they are Coral snakes. Bright colors, when found in nature, often indicate the animal either tastes bad or is potentially dangerous. The milksnake's color mimicry of the Coral snake is very effective in keeping them safe, except when worried citizens kill them thinking they are killing a deadly Coral snake.

Pale Milksnake

This is probably my favorite native snake species in South Dakota. Keep an eye out for them on walking paths and roadways. They often hang out under rotting logs or lumber and in other places they can hide and find their favorite foods. When you see them, don't harm them - enjoy these little rodent-eating machines! But, it is not just rodents. These snakes also feed on bugs, lizards and other snakes as well, including juvenile and young Prairie Rattlesnakes!! Small and wonderful, Pale Milks rarely get larger than 24 inches. Most of the ones brought in to us are about the size of a pencil.

As we work closely with major zoos worldwide to promote species survival, it is our responsibility to also educate the public about important environmental issues and positively contribute to the future of our animal residents.

Reptile Gardens is a great place for class field trips and learning experiences. View some work sheets and answer keys for your group to use while exploring Reptile Gardens. We have several varying difficulty levels to help accommodate every age of children. Have fun learning!